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Increase feed efficiency to maximize returns

Since feed costs represent the largest portion of cost of production, it also represents the greatest opportunity for reducing costs-- in particular the grow-finish barn. Feed efficiency can have the single biggest impact on feed cost per pig. With the current high feed costs, there has been a greater push toward managing feed efficiency within operations.

There are a number of considerations that play a role when examining feed efficiency in pork production, according to Ken Engele, information services manager, Prairie Swine Center. These are environmental (temperature, humidity, air circulation), social (space allocation, group size, re-grouping), immunological (disease, pathogen concentration), and management (particle size, feeder adjustment).

Engele provides the following factors that impact feed efficiency:

• Genetics: Are you feeding according to the maximum lean yield potential of your herd?

• Dietary energy level: Use of alternative feed ingredients typically provides a lower energy density within the diet, thereby increasing the amount of feed required per pig. Pigs will typically compensate for the lower energy diets by increasing their intake, subsequently having a significant impact on feed efficiency. Poorer feed efficiency may be offset by cheaper diet cost. It is very important to monitor this relationship.

• Disease challenge: Healthy pigs grow faster. Pigs are able to utilize nutrients for growth rather than fight disease. Disease challenges can also increase mortality in the finishing herd and can have significant impact on whole herd efficiency.

• Breeding herd productivity: On average, a sow will consume approximately one ton of feed per year. The greater number of pigs produced per sow will improve whole herd feed efficiency.